National T20 Cup set to kick off in Faisalabad today

The National T20 Cup is set to begin today at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, with defending champions Karachi Region Whites taking on Islamabad Region in the opening match at 7 PM.  

The second Group B match will also take place later tonight at 11 PM, featuring a contest between Bahawalpur Region and Dera Murad Jamali Region.  

A total of 18 teams from 16 regions are participating in the tournament, divided into four groups. Matches will be played at multiple venues, including Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and LCCA Ground, as well as Multan Cricket Stadium. In Lahore and Multan, the first match of the day will start at 4:30 PM, while the second match will begin at 9 PM.  

The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, scheduled for March 23 and 24 at Iqbal Stadium. The semi-finals will take place on March 26, followed by the grand final on March 27, also at Iqbal Stadium. The tournament champions will receive a prize of PKR 5 million.  

In Faisalabad, double-header matches will start at 7 PM, while in Lahore and Multan, the first matches will begin at 4:30 PM. Entry for matches at Iqbal Stadium from March 14 to 20 will be free for spectators, while ticket sales for the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final (March 21-27) will be announced in due course.